15 June 2007 - Reacting to the murder of a radio journalist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged that the world body would fully support efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The Secretary-General was shocked and saddened to receive the news of the brutal killing of Mr. Serge Maheshe, a respected national radio journalist at Radio Okapi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," his spokesperson said in a statement.

The death of the 31-year old journalist "is a great loss for the UN and the people of the DRC as they continue their efforts to build a sustainable peace in their country," the spokesperson said.

"The United Nations will do everything possible to support the authorities of the DRC to identify the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice."

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) yesterday condemned the killing of Mr. Maheshe, whose radio station was sponsored by the UN.

The victim, who had worked for Radio Okapi since 2003, was shot dead on Wednesday night by two men on a street in Bukavu, in the far east of the DRC, as he and two friends were about to enter a UN-marked vehicle. His friends were not injured in the attack.

Radio Okapi is a partnership between MONUC and the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO).